P1 - Wind, Solar and Geothermal

What are the advantages of wind power?

There is no pollution except during manufacture, no permanent damage to landscape and no fuel costs and minimal running costs.

What are the disadvantages of wind power?

Turbines can spoil the view, their noise may annoy locals, initial costs of making turbines is quite high, turbines stop if there is no wind or wind is too strong, and the supply cannot be increased with extra demand.

What are the advantages of solar power?

No pollution or environmental damage once the panels have been made, very reliable source of energy in sunny countries, can be cost effective in cloudy places like Britain, and once they are made, the energy is free and running costs are almost zero.

What are the disadvantages of solar power?

They only produce energy in the day, quite a lot of energy is needed to manufacture panels, supply cannot be increased for extra demand, and the initial costs of manufacture and set up are quite high.

What are the advantages of geothermal power?

Reliable source of free energy as it doesn’t rely on weather, and it does little damage to the environment.

What are the disadvantages of geothermal power?

Not many locations for them and the cost of building a plant is usually high compared to energy produced.